Systems and methods for a retail system

Abstract

Disclosed are systems and systems for operating a retail system.

1 . A method for a system including a store, the method comprising the steps, performed in the store, of: 
 detecting a first product selected by a consumer during a visit to the store;    generating a message, a content of the message depending on the first product detected by the detecting step;    emitting the message, during the visit to the store, the emitting step being performed at a first location, the first location being fixed;    displaying, during the visit to the store, a price for the first product, the displaying step being performed at a second location different from the first location; and    receiving payment from the consumer at the second location.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein emitting the message includes displaying a light signal for sensing by the consumer.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein emitting the message includes playing an audio signal for sensing by the consumer.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein generating the message includes generating the message to include information about another product.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein generating the message includes generating the message to include information about a product that can be used with the first product.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein generating the message includes generating the message to include information about a product that can be substituted for the first product.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein generating the message includes generating the message to include a suggestion to select an additional unit of the first product, and pricing information related to the additional unit.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein a content of the message depends on a record for the consumer, the record being compiled on a previous day.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein a content of the message depends on whether a second product has been detected.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the consumer selects the first product by moving the first product.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the detecting step detects the first product after the consumer moves the first product.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first product is on a shelf in the store, and the consumer selects the first product by moving the first product from the shelf.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first product is on a shelf in the store, the consumer transports a container, the consumer selects the first product by moving the first product from the shelf to the container, and 
 the detecting step detects the first product while the first product is in the container.    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the detecting step detects the first product while there are a plurality of other products in the container.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the container includes a plurality of wheels.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1  wherein detecting includes receiving a signal from the first product.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the signal includes a plurality of digits that identifies the first product.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the signal includes a radio signal.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1  wherein generating the message includes accessing a data structure.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the data structure includes a table.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the fixed location is a shelf.  
     
     
         22 . A system in a store, the system comprising: 
 an output device at a first fixed location;    a detector that detects a first product selected by a consumer, to generate a first signal;    a generator that generates a message and sends the message to the output device in response to the first signal; and    a display that displays a price for the first product, the display being located at a second location different from the first location.    
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22  wherein the output device includes a display screen.  
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 22  wherein the generator includes logic to generate message to include information about another product.  
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 22  wherein the generator includes logic to generate the message to include information about a product that can be used with the first product.  
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 22  wherein the generator includes a general logic expression, and evaluator for the logical expression, and the generator conditionally sends the message to the output device depending on a result from the evaluator.  
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 22  wherein the generator includes logic to generate the message to include a suggestion to select an additional unit of the first product, and pricing information related to the additional unit.  
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 22  wherein a content of the message depends on a record for the consumer, the record being compiled on a previous day.  
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 22  wherein a content of the message depends on whether a second product has been detected.  
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 22  wherein the detector detects the first product after the consumer moves the first product.  
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 22  wherein the first product is on a shelf in the store, and the consumer selects the first product by moving the first product from the shelf.  
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 22  wherein the first product is on a shelf in the store, the consumer transports a container, the consumer selects the first product by moving the first product from the shelf to the container, and 
 the detecting step detects the first product while the first product is in the container.    
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 32  wherein the detecting step detects the first product while there are a plurality of other products in the container.  
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 32  wherein the container includes a plurality of wheels.  
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 22  wherein detecting includes receiving a signal from the first product.  
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 35  wherein the signal includes a plurality of digits that identifies the first product.  
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 35  wherein the signal includes a radio signal.  
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 22  wherein the generator includes accessing a data structure.  
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 38  wherein the data structure includes a table.  
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 38  wherein the fixed location is a shelf.  
     
     
         41 . A system in a store, the system comprising: 
 means for detecting a first product selected by a consumer;    means for generating a message, a content of the message depending on the first product detected by the detecting means;    means for emitting the message, the emitting means being at a first fixed location;    means for displaying a price for the first product, the displaying means being at a second location different from the first location; and    means for receiving payment from the consumer at the second location.    
     
     
         42 . The system of  claim 41  wherein means for generating the message includes means for generating the message to include information about another product.  
     
     
         43 . The system of  claim 41  wherein means for generating the message includes means for generating the message to include information about a product that can be used with the first product.  
     
     
         44 . The system of  claim 41  wherein means for generating the message includes means for generating the message to include information about a product that can be substituted for the first product.  
     
     
         45 . The system of  claim 41  wherein means for generating the message includes generating the message to include a suggestion to select an additional unit of the first product, and pricing information related to the additional unit.  
     
     
         46 . The system of  claim 41  wherein a content of the message depends on a record for the consumer, the record being compiled on a previous day.  
     
     
         47 . The system of  claim 41  wherein a content of the message depends on whether a second product has been detected.  
     
     
         48 . The system of  claim 41  wherein the means for detecting detects the first product after the consumer moves the first product.  
     
     
         49 . The system of  claim 41  wherein the first product is on a shelf in the store, and the consumer selects the first product by moving the first product from the shelf.  
     
     
         50 . The system of  claim 41  wherein the first product is on a shelf in the store, the consumer transports a container, the consumer selects the first product by moving the first product from the shelf to the container, and 
 the means for detecting detects the first product while the first product is in the container.    
     
     
         51 . The system of  claim 50  wherein the means for detecting detects the first product while there are a plurality of other products in the container.  
     
     
         52 . The system of  claim 50  wherein the container includes a plurality of wheels.  
     
     
         53 . The system of  claim 41  wherein means for detecting includes means for receiving a signal from the first product.  
     
     
         54 . The system of  claim 53  wherein the signal includes a plurality of digits that identifies the first product.  
     
     
         55 . The system of  claim 53  wherein the signal includes a radio signal.  
     
     
         56 . The system of  claim 41  wherein means for generating the message includes means for accessing a data structure.  
     
     
         57 . The system of  claim 56  wherein the data structure includes a table.  
     
     
         58 . The system of  claim 41  wherein a time of activation of the emitting means depends on when the detecting means detects the first product,  
     
     
         59 . The system of  claim 41  wherein the fixed location is a shelf.